Cascade Christian steals one in first round

Saturday

Feb 23, 2013 at 12:50 AMFeb 23, 2013 at 1:06 AM

Home cheers amplified with every momentum-swaying steal and score as Cascade Christian rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final four minutes and defeated Creswell, 55-49, in the first round of the Class 3A boys basketball playoffs Friday in the Challengers' gym.

Home cheers amplified with every momentum-swaying steal and score as Cascade Christian rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final four minutes and defeated Creswell, 55-49, in the first round of the Class 3A boys basketball playoffs Friday in the Challengers' gym.

Cascade Christian (22-5) finished on a 14-0 run and advanced to the eight-team state tournament next week. The Challengers face Valley Catholic at North Bend High School at 8:15 p.m. Thursday.

During its late-game charge, Cascade Christian made six steals and scored on all of them. Jake Brown and Cody Coggins made two steals apiece during the stretch.

"It was impressive," said Challengers coach Brian Morse. "We increased ball pressure and totally picked up the intensity. (The Bulldogs) were being really patient, and it put them on their heels when we picked it up defensively. It totally changed the tide, and they started turning the ball over. We still had to convert though, and we did. It wasn't the way I drew it up, but the kids played some stellar defense in the end."

Brown, a junior guard, turned in an electric effort off the bench, shooting 8-for-10 from the field for 17 points.

David Sellers went for 13 points and eight rebounds, while Troy Thompson tallied 12 points on a 5-for-7 performance. Coggins added nine points and five steals.

Star guard Alex Miller was held scoreless, yet was effective with seven assists.

"It was encouraging for me because he's a potential first-team all-state player and he was held scoreless, but the rest of the team picked up the slack," said Morse. "It says that a team won't be able to shut him down and shut the team down."

SOUTH SALEM 67, GRANTS PASS 66 — At Grants Pass, South Salem's Isiah Large stole the ball with about eight seconds left in the Class 6A state play-in game and raced to the hoop for the game-winning basket.

Dylan Strempel and JC McKinley each had 18 points for Grants Pass, which finished the year 8-15.

Micah Johnson added 16 points for the Cavemen, who led 34-32 at halftime.